I slowed down on this blog because I was supposed to be updating Ella and Seren's blogs but there are some things going on with me that can't really be said by them because they weren't there or because it doesn't really have anything to do with them.
I went to Pittsburgh over the weekend. Heather was headed that way for a wedding and Courtney and I agreed to come too. Then Carlee and Jill joined in the fun! It was so nice to all be together without having to worry about wedding stuff. I was really grumpy before I left b/c I was so anxious to leave and have a whole weekend with my friends. I did miss Ella and Seren a lot, especially by the time Sunday rolled around, but it was pretty nice just to focus on myself and not them for a change. I had so much good food and had such a great time. I don't think I've laughed that hard for so long in months. A big thank you to Shannon and Brad for being such great hosts. An extra special thank you to Brad for dealing with so many girls all by himself!
It's a good thing I had that weekend to relax because the next 2 months are going to be very stressful. Just thinking about it really starts to overwhelm me. I have birthday parties to attend and plan, a bridal shower to throw and plan, a wedding, a graduation...I just don't know how I'm going to get all of these things done in addition to the everyday things that are piling up around me. Our yard is our disaster. It desperately needs some love and attention but we just don't have any free weekends. Plus, I am starting an internship this summer so I'll be gone at least 2 days a week. My school work isn't getting done, though I did just pass my stats class. At least I can't skip out on my workout...I signed up for pilates and will need it to help de-stress.
To top it off, Seren and Ella have been especially needy lately. Seren is going through the phase where she just wants me around her all of the time and poor Ella is getting jealous. As much as I would like to sit down and play with them and hold them all of the time, I have so many other things I need to do. I feel bad for them but still, it is draining on me. I would like to have a moment to myself...or at least a moment of silence. The whining and crying is a constant background noise at my house. Jason tries to help but he is exhausted after work and I feel bad asking him to do more work while I relax. Maybe we should start taking turns.
I long for the day when the girls can play outside on their own so I can get some housework done. Maybe now wasn't the best time to get another degree or take on an internship. But then, I don't think there will ever be a "good" time. And I know there are a lot of other worse things that could be happening to me right now, I'm just feeling like I bit off more than I can chew and I'm hoping that writing it all out will make everything seem a bit lighter.
Meanwhile, if anyone would like to borrow two young children for the week, I'd be more than happy to lend mine out. They are great kids - as long as you can give them 100% of your undivided attention!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Cooking
I have always liked cooking. I love food and I love eating a variety of things and tire of the same meal over and over. Top Chef is one of my all time favorite shows. I wish I had the skills to make the dishes that I see on TV. When I'm looking for something new to make, I usually use allrecipes.com to search out new ideas. These are usually family friendly recipes that are easy to make. I like it because it gives other members the opportunity to critique recipes and give advice on how to improve them or things not to do.
Recently though, I have found a new site that I am obsessed with. It is called cookstr.com. These recipes are more challenging and are posted by real chefs. It requires a more delicate palate (for lack of a better phrase) but there are still kid friendly options. In fact, you can sort the recipes in all kinds of ways - from easy to challenging cooking, inexpensive or expensive recipes, which meal or course you're cooking for, or even the mood you're in. I love this sight!
Yesterday I printed out directions for dessert. It was a fig, orange carmel, marscapone dessert and it was amazing! Jason loved it (Ella didn't), even though I was pretty sure he wouldn't and I would be eating this alone. It was so different and so easy to make that I'm thinking of doing it again tonight. I also found a very simple spaghetti sauce that is the best sauce I've ever had. I seriously can't get enough. I don't even like spaghetti that much but I down this meal at least once a week. This site is really fine-tuning my moderate cooking level. Pretty soon I'll be an expert chef!!
Recently though, I have found a new site that I am obsessed with. It is called cookstr.com. These recipes are more challenging and are posted by real chefs. It requires a more delicate palate (for lack of a better phrase) but there are still kid friendly options. In fact, you can sort the recipes in all kinds of ways - from easy to challenging cooking, inexpensive or expensive recipes, which meal or course you're cooking for, or even the mood you're in. I love this sight!
Yesterday I printed out directions for dessert. It was a fig, orange carmel, marscapone dessert and it was amazing! Jason loved it (Ella didn't), even though I was pretty sure he wouldn't and I would be eating this alone. It was so different and so easy to make that I'm thinking of doing it again tonight. I also found a very simple spaghetti sauce that is the best sauce I've ever had. I seriously can't get enough. I don't even like spaghetti that much but I down this meal at least once a week. This site is really fine-tuning my moderate cooking level. Pretty soon I'll be an expert chef!!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Hypoglycemia
After I gave birth to Ella, I decided I should probably invest in some life insurance. A nurse came to the house and did a full workup. When she took my blood pressure she expressed her concern. I have always had low blood pressure. My dentist always comments on how low it is, but none of my family practioner's have ever said anything about it so I didn't worry too much. The nurse asked me if I ever become dizzy or feel faint when I stand up. My answer was all of the time. She told me to go see my doctor immediately and that I should never go anywhere without some candy or cookies.
I took what she said very seriously, but I had also just had a baby. When you're pregnant, your blood pressure normally goes down and my dizzy spells began when I became pregnant. Granted, they seem to have become worse post-partum but I had lost a lot of blood, labor is a tramatic experience and I had just spent the last 39 weeks going to my OBGYN. It's safe to say I wasn't in a hurry to make an appointment with another doctor. However, when my blood test came back, there was one abnormality - my glucose level was low. I was advised to take the results to my doctor. This time, I did as I was told.
My doctor said I might be hypoglycemic but she didn't think my glucose level was nearly as bad as the insurance company had frightened me into believing. She ran some more tests which came back fine, but of course I wasn't having any dizziness when I was there. She said that I had just had a baby and to take it easy and that I would be fine. Well, that was over 3 years ago and I kind of forgot about it. Well, I didn't really forget since I still get dizzy from time to time - but I pushed it to the back of my head.
Today it came roaring back. I woke up this morning with a bad headache. I felt incredibly nauseous and I was famished. I sat down to eat breakfast right away for fear that I was going to pass out. I felt better after breakfast but my headache persisted all day. I noticed that before I had lunch and dinner that I was getting really annoyed with Jason and the kids. Everyone was severly irritating me and I knew it was pretty irrational. (Nothing's more fun than being completely pissed at people for no reason and knowing it!) But after I ate, my annoyance subsided and I didn't want to punch everyone in the face anymore. Yay!
As the day has progressed, so has my headache. It has gone from bad to severe. Being the self-sufficient diagnoser that I am, I googled my symptoms. Guess what??!! They are ALL signs of hypoglycemia!! I'm 100% sure that I have this. Everything matches. All of it. Now I have to make another appt. The only problem is, hypoglycemia is very hard to diagnose because you have to draw blood while you are having the symptoms which you can't plan for. Hopefully I won't have to fast for 72 hours in a hospital! On the bright side, if this is the worst thing I ever get, I will consider myself very lucky!
I took what she said very seriously, but I had also just had a baby. When you're pregnant, your blood pressure normally goes down and my dizzy spells began when I became pregnant. Granted, they seem to have become worse post-partum but I had lost a lot of blood, labor is a tramatic experience and I had just spent the last 39 weeks going to my OBGYN. It's safe to say I wasn't in a hurry to make an appointment with another doctor. However, when my blood test came back, there was one abnormality - my glucose level was low. I was advised to take the results to my doctor. This time, I did as I was told.
My doctor said I might be hypoglycemic but she didn't think my glucose level was nearly as bad as the insurance company had frightened me into believing. She ran some more tests which came back fine, but of course I wasn't having any dizziness when I was there. She said that I had just had a baby and to take it easy and that I would be fine. Well, that was over 3 years ago and I kind of forgot about it. Well, I didn't really forget since I still get dizzy from time to time - but I pushed it to the back of my head.
Today it came roaring back. I woke up this morning with a bad headache. I felt incredibly nauseous and I was famished. I sat down to eat breakfast right away for fear that I was going to pass out. I felt better after breakfast but my headache persisted all day. I noticed that before I had lunch and dinner that I was getting really annoyed with Jason and the kids. Everyone was severly irritating me and I knew it was pretty irrational. (Nothing's more fun than being completely pissed at people for no reason and knowing it!) But after I ate, my annoyance subsided and I didn't want to punch everyone in the face anymore. Yay!
As the day has progressed, so has my headache. It has gone from bad to severe. Being the self-sufficient diagnoser that I am, I googled my symptoms. Guess what??!! They are ALL signs of hypoglycemia!! I'm 100% sure that I have this. Everything matches. All of it. Now I have to make another appt. The only problem is, hypoglycemia is very hard to diagnose because you have to draw blood while you are having the symptoms which you can't plan for. Hopefully I won't have to fast for 72 hours in a hospital! On the bright side, if this is the worst thing I ever get, I will consider myself very lucky!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
I haven't been writing much on this blog because earlier this week I started two seperate blogs for each daughter. I thought it would be easier and so far, I am right. Also, I have just discovered the show Mad Men and have been spending a lot of my time catching up on the last 3 seasons. I can only do this now while I'm waiting for my second term to start. It's so nice to have a two week break from school. I have so much free time!
Right now I am watching Chubba roll around on the floor trying to get to various, strategically placed toys. I was hoping it would help her learn how to crawl but she's smarter than that. Grace started her third quarter of school so I need to make a new mix for the car ride on Thursday. We like to shake up our music selection every once in a while.
I don't have much planned for the rest of the week. Linda (my step-mom) and I are going shopping on Thursday. She is putting together an outfit for Jessica's wedding and I need her help finding my dad a retirement gift. His last day of work is Friday. I'm pretty sure he is pumped. Now we just have to find him a hobby! My mom is leaving for Vietnam on the 22nd. Her mom (my grandmother) is very sick and I guess she has no memory of my mom. I know that this upsets my mom. She did tell me that she's been crying about it, but my mom is not a very open person. I tried to get her to talk about it but she clammed up and shook it off. I just hope she makes it back before my grandma dies.
But I had better run...Seren is getting very angry that she was left playing on the floor alone!! By the way, the new blogs are seren-thestoryofmylifeasachubba.blogspot.com and ella-thestoryofmylifeasabear.blogspot.com.
Right now I am watching Chubba roll around on the floor trying to get to various, strategically placed toys. I was hoping it would help her learn how to crawl but she's smarter than that. Grace started her third quarter of school so I need to make a new mix for the car ride on Thursday. We like to shake up our music selection every once in a while.
I don't have much planned for the rest of the week. Linda (my step-mom) and I are going shopping on Thursday. She is putting together an outfit for Jessica's wedding and I need her help finding my dad a retirement gift. His last day of work is Friday. I'm pretty sure he is pumped. Now we just have to find him a hobby! My mom is leaving for Vietnam on the 22nd. Her mom (my grandmother) is very sick and I guess she has no memory of my mom. I know that this upsets my mom. She did tell me that she's been crying about it, but my mom is not a very open person. I tried to get her to talk about it but she clammed up and shook it off. I just hope she makes it back before my grandma dies.
But I had better run...Seren is getting very angry that she was left playing on the floor alone!! By the way, the new blogs are seren-thestoryofmylifeasachubba.blogspot.com and ella-thestoryofmylifeasabear.blogspot.com.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Oops! Things that have happened while I've been MIA...
I am officially a bad blogger. I kept saying I would have more time after I finished my last class of the term but I have been done for a week and haven't felt much like writing. Probably because I wrote 4 papers in a week. Anyway, no more excuses!
Now, where did I leave off?? Oh right, my dad's basal cell carcinoma. I'm happy to say that I'm not mad anymore. I think I was initially very scared and anger seemed the best way to express myself. So many people have now told me that they had the same type of skin cancer and were fine that I'm sure my dad will be fine too. It is still infuriating that he doesn't see any reason to wear sunscreen but he is stubborn and isn't going to change and I see no reason to worry about his health if he doesn't.
Christmas - Christmas was wonderful and horrible all in one. The first family gathering was with my dad, Linda, Amanda, and Gary. We had dinner at Mitchell's, which I secretly don't really like, but go along with it since the rest of the family is obsessed. We had dinner, exchanged presents, and had a good time. I'm pretty sure Ella wanted to spend the night at the restaurant!
The second gathering was with my step-dad's family. He has nine brothers and sisters and getting together with them is always so much fun. Jason and I played Euchre against my dad and my aunt Maggie. They beat us. It was the first time Jason and I have EVER lost as partners and it was bitter! I'm sure we will need to have a rematch at the family reunion this summer. The host this year was my uncle Red. He cooked a feast! There were three different kinds of salmon which I'm still dreaming about and I don't even like salmon. We had so much fun, although there was a sad note when my cousin told me that was diagnosed with a very rare type of cancer. She had to have surgery a few weeks ago and the doctors had to take biopsies from several different places, including her bone marrow, but she is now cancer free!! It was scary for a few weeks though. I'm just so happy that she is going to be okay. Unfortunately, I really believe that things happen in threes...and so far that's only two cancer scares. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but I feel like I'm just waiting for a third. Let's hope that doesn't happen!
The third gathering was at my mom's. This did not go very smoothly. You have to know my mom to understand this, but her idea of enjoying the holidays is stressing herself out over nothing and screaming at everyone in her path...mostly this falls on Andy but Jess and I get our fair share as well. This is going to need to be a seperate blog. I don't have the energy to go into it right now. It was a nightmare.
Christmas morning was hilarious. First of all, Ella came into our room really annoyed because she thought that Santa hadn't left any presents! I guess she was expecting the toys to be out in the open and didn't realize that all of the boxes of pretty paper contained toys. Then she was complaining that Santa was really loud that night and she heard him. Oops! I guess Jason and I need to work on our stealth! She wanted to play with each toy that she opened immediately but it didn't take much convincing to open a new present. The girls got a TON of stuff (they must've been really good this year). At first, we thought Ella's favorite toy was her Barbie grooming kit. She kept putting on her make-up, blow drying and brushing her hair, and painting her nails, but when she figured out how to work her digital camera she didn't put it down for days. Needless to say, we have a lot of pictures of random objects in the house! Seren's favorite toy was a giraffe that we somehow lost 3 days later. I have no idea where it is!
I think that's a good update for now. Much more has happened but it is past my bedtime :) I'll post more soon accompanied by pictures. Chubba is getting so big and I have a great naked picture that shows all of her fat rolls!! That's a must see! Goodnight!
Now, where did I leave off?? Oh right, my dad's basal cell carcinoma. I'm happy to say that I'm not mad anymore. I think I was initially very scared and anger seemed the best way to express myself. So many people have now told me that they had the same type of skin cancer and were fine that I'm sure my dad will be fine too. It is still infuriating that he doesn't see any reason to wear sunscreen but he is stubborn and isn't going to change and I see no reason to worry about his health if he doesn't.
Christmas - Christmas was wonderful and horrible all in one. The first family gathering was with my dad, Linda, Amanda, and Gary. We had dinner at Mitchell's, which I secretly don't really like, but go along with it since the rest of the family is obsessed. We had dinner, exchanged presents, and had a good time. I'm pretty sure Ella wanted to spend the night at the restaurant!
The second gathering was with my step-dad's family. He has nine brothers and sisters and getting together with them is always so much fun. Jason and I played Euchre against my dad and my aunt Maggie. They beat us. It was the first time Jason and I have EVER lost as partners and it was bitter! I'm sure we will need to have a rematch at the family reunion this summer. The host this year was my uncle Red. He cooked a feast! There were three different kinds of salmon which I'm still dreaming about and I don't even like salmon. We had so much fun, although there was a sad note when my cousin told me that was diagnosed with a very rare type of cancer. She had to have surgery a few weeks ago and the doctors had to take biopsies from several different places, including her bone marrow, but she is now cancer free!! It was scary for a few weeks though. I'm just so happy that she is going to be okay. Unfortunately, I really believe that things happen in threes...and so far that's only two cancer scares. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but I feel like I'm just waiting for a third. Let's hope that doesn't happen!
The third gathering was at my mom's. This did not go very smoothly. You have to know my mom to understand this, but her idea of enjoying the holidays is stressing herself out over nothing and screaming at everyone in her path...mostly this falls on Andy but Jess and I get our fair share as well. This is going to need to be a seperate blog. I don't have the energy to go into it right now. It was a nightmare.
Christmas morning was hilarious. First of all, Ella came into our room really annoyed because she thought that Santa hadn't left any presents! I guess she was expecting the toys to be out in the open and didn't realize that all of the boxes of pretty paper contained toys. Then she was complaining that Santa was really loud that night and she heard him. Oops! I guess Jason and I need to work on our stealth! She wanted to play with each toy that she opened immediately but it didn't take much convincing to open a new present. The girls got a TON of stuff (they must've been really good this year). At first, we thought Ella's favorite toy was her Barbie grooming kit. She kept putting on her make-up, blow drying and brushing her hair, and painting her nails, but when she figured out how to work her digital camera she didn't put it down for days. Needless to say, we have a lot of pictures of random objects in the house! Seren's favorite toy was a giraffe that we somehow lost 3 days later. I have no idea where it is!
I think that's a good update for now. Much more has happened but it is past my bedtime :) I'll post more soon accompanied by pictures. Chubba is getting so big and I have a great naked picture that shows all of her fat rolls!! That's a must see! Goodnight!
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